New Girl Here * Check Out My Itinerary

[AlmostApril]

Hi!

I LOVE these forums! There are so many people posting constantly that there's ALWAYS something new to read and learn! It's so wonderful! I've been a lurker for quite some time now, and have finally decided to post something!

I've been planning my FIRST family vacation to Disney World which is in just over two weeks! Ahhh! I can't wait!

I want to post my itinerary, just to get some opinions and see if there's anything wrong or anything missing. I appreciate any and all advice!

Check it out.

Monday April 18th
*Limo picks us up at home @ 6:30 AM
*Flight from Logan Airport leaves @ 9:55 AM
*2-hour stop-over in Philadelphia
*Flight lands in Orlando @ 3:55 PM
*Car from Quicksilver pick-up at airport and bring us to All-Star Sports Resort
*Check-in, unpack, explore hotel and swim in the pool
*Dinner at ESPN Club on Disney's Boardwalk, explore DB
*Mini-Golf @ Fantasia Gardens at Downtown Disney, explore DD
*Bedtime

Tuesday April 19th
*Breakfast at End Zone food court at hotel (1 counter-service point each)
*Catch bus to Epcot for park opening at 9:00 AM
*Get Fastpasses right away for Test Track and Mission Space. Then Maelstrom and Honey I Shrunk Audience later.
*Quick lunch at Electric Umbrella (1 counter-service point each)
*Priority Seating reservations at "Spirit Of Aloha" dinner show @ 5:15 PM (2 table-service points each)
*Take ferry from Polynesian to Magic Kingdom for "Wishes" @ 9:00 PM
*If we're up to it, back to Epcot for evening EMH
*Bedtime

Wednesday April 20th
*Breakfast at End Zone food court at hotel (1 counter-service point each)
*Catch bus to Magic Kingdom for park opening at 9:00 AM
*Get Fastpasses right away for Splash Mountain, Stitch, Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mountain. Then Buzz Lightyear, Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain later
*Priority Seating reservations at Cinderella's Royal Table for lunch at 1:40 PM (1 table-service point each)
*Dream Come True Parade @ 3:00 PM
*Priority Seating reservations at Chef Mickey's @ 7:50 PM
*Electrical Water Pageant at around 10:30 PM
*Magic Kingdom's EMH
*Bedtime

Thursday April 21st
*Breakfast at End Zone food court at hotel (1 counter-service point each)
*Catch bus to MGM Studios for park opening at 9:00 AM
* Get Fastpasses right away for Tower Of Terror, Rock'N'Rollercoaster and Muppets 3-D. Then Star Tours and Indiana Jones later.
*Priority Seating reservations at Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant for an early dinner at 3:55 PM (1 table service point each)
*Stars and Motor Cars Parade at 5:30 PM
*Fantasmic at 8:30 PM
*Late-night snack at Toy Story's Pizza Planet (1 counter-service point each)
*MGM Studios EMH
*Bedtime

Friday April 22nd
*Catch bus to Animal Kingdom for park opening at 9:00 AM
*Get Fastpasses right away for Dinosaur, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Kali River Rapids and It's Tough To Be A Bug. Primeval Whirl later.
*Priority Seating reservations at Donald's Breakfastosaurus at 9:40 AM (pay cash)
*Quick lunch anywhere in park (pay cash)
*Jungle Parade at 4:00 PM
*Priority Seating reservations at Rainforest Cafe @ 5:00 PM (pay cash)
*Hop over to Epcot for Illuminations at 9:00 PM
*Bedtime

Saturday April 23rd
*Pick up rental car (convertible) at Alamo at Car Care Center @ 9:00 AM
*Check-out at 11:00 AM
*Breakfast on the road
*Drive to Punta Gorda to stay with friends for 4 days - Fly home out of Fort Meyers airport on 4/26 at 9:55 AM

 

[Bob P]

Hi Almost April,

Sounds like a fun trip! I think for the most part your plan works, but I do have a few suggestions:

On the night you arrive, by the time you get to the hotel and check in it will probably be at least 5:30. It will be hard to swim, shower get dressed, go to the Boardwalk (you'll have to take a taxi or take the bus to the Studios then walk/take the boat over the BW), eat at ESPN (they don't take PS so you might have to wait a while) then walk to play mini-golf, and then go over to DTD. That sounds too ambitious to me!

Second, maybe I'm reading you wrong, but you can't get Fastpasses to all those attractions at once. There are time limitations on Fastpasses (someone can explain better than I can).

Finally, with a 1:40 PS at CRT on Wednesday it will be hard to get a spot for the parade. People are already lining up at 1:40!

Anyway, glad you came out of lurking to post! Good luck!

Bob

 

[estnh]

For a first timer, your planning is exceptional!

The fast pass thing is the only big hitch--Heres a link that explains it:

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/fastpass.htm


Hope you have a wonderful trip, and congratulations on an excellent plan!

 

[wilwij104]

I agree with Bob, that first day is LOADED!

Also, don't forget that Disney's version of minigolf is different than anywhere else. You just don't start to play after paying, they give you an actual tee time. Sometimes the wait can be 1-1.5 hours depending on time of day, weather, etc..

Ron

 

[areno79]

Hi Almost April...Welcome to out of lurking status!

I think the itinerary looks good, except you might want to leave some time in the afternoons to relax at the resort. You didn't mention if you've got kids with you, but I know that leaving the resort for a couple of hours in the middle of the day will work wonders for all of you.
Hope you have a wonderful trip, make sure to come back and tell us all about it!!

 

[torjormom]

Your trip sounds fun!!!

My family is going in June for our 1st WDW vacation - we are also staying @ A/S Sports! I would love to hear about your trip afterwards.

Have a Great Trip!!!

 

[AlmostApril]

Okay.

I was kind of thinking the same thing, about Day 1 being really jammed-packed. I know it SOUNDS like a lot, BUT, I was thinking, throw our luggage in our room and jump right out into the pool and swim from 6-7 or so. Get dressed and head out to DB. I was thinking that a wait at ESPN Club wouldn't be too bad since it's a Monday night. Hopefully we'll be in and out of there by 9:00 PM. I don't want to spend TOO much time exploring the boardwalk. Just a little walk around. Then head right over to DD. But there isn't TOO much exploring we'll do there either. Out main goal there was just the LEGO place. Then we can head over to Fantasia golf. The last time you can start a game is at like 10:30 PM I think. I'm thinking we'll be wide awake pretty late because we'll all have napped all day on our 4 hour+ plane ride. Still sound too hectic u think? What can we do to shorten it? Would anything be better to postpone? How about skip DB and do it another time. Instead of ESPN, grab a smaller dinner at DD before golf? Sound better?

As for the fastpasses, I know you can't get more than one at once BUT I've been told that it IS possible sometimes if the crowds aren't too crazy. I've heard pretty good things about April 18-23 crowds. (Knock on wood) If not, oh well, one ride at a time, no big deal.

As for CRT lunch at 1:40, we're right there at the castle already, so when we come out about an hour later, I know there will be crowds for the parade, but I'm sure we'll manage a half-way decent spot.

Thanks for all your advice, guys, keep it comin'!

 

[grumpygirl0130]

We are also flying out of Ft Myers in the morning on the 26th after a week at Disney. My Mom lives down there. Might see ya at the airport...lol

Sheri

 

[LovePug]

Hi and welcome! I agree with areno79 to see about working in an afternoon or early evening break...especially if you have young kids. Your itinerary sounds great, but has the potential to be exhausting. Just don't make yourself crazy trying to squeeze too much in and then being disappointed if you can't do it all.

Have a wonderful time on your first trip!

 

[Bob P]

I was thinking that a wait at ESPN Club wouldn't be too bad since it's a Monday night. Hopefully we'll be in and out of there by 9:00 PM. I don't want to spend TOO much time exploring the boardwalk. Just a little walk around. Then head right over to DD. But there isn't TOO much exploring we'll do there either. Out main goal there was just the LEGO place. Then we can head over to Fantasia golf. The last time you can start a game is at like 10:30 PM I think.

You'd be better off playing mini golf right after dinner if you're eating at the BW. Fantasia is near the Epcot resorts and you'd have to walk over there from the BW. Going from ESPN to DD then back for mini golf is not a good use of your time.

And I know you're at the castle for the lunch, but don't count on being seated promptly at 1:40 (unless you get luckier than we've been)! Also, don't underestimate the crowds around the castle at parade time!

April 18-23 is a big spring break week in the Northeast (well certainly in the NYC suburbs, and IIRC, most of NY state). So while they shouldn't be packed, I wouldn't count on the parks being empty.

Just my thoughts!
Bob